Former mob enforcer John Wick (Keanu Reeves: The Neon Demon) declared war on the New York branch of the Russian mob after a mobster’s punk son killed his dog and stole his car. After wiping out a large percentage of the population of New York, John Wick returned home to retire from the blood and guts business for good.
That didn’t work out.
He’s no sooner home than another shadowy underworld figure comes calling. Santino ­D’Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio: Dalida) holds Wick’s marker, a blood promise to perform a task. If Wick refuses, a price will be put on his head. If he accepts and kills the head of the Italian mob, a price will be put on his head.
Stuck in an impossible situation, Wick does what he does best: kill every person he comes across. His blood-soaked journey takes him from the catacombs of Rome to the subways of New York. This sequel has as much action-packed swagger as the original and twice as many headshots. It’s pure chest-heaving, popcorn-eating adrenaline. Second-time Wick director Chad Stahelski is a former stuntman who understands how to stage and shoot gonzo sequences. The film opens on a brutal fight involving guns, cars and knives. Pacing is frenetic, but the fight is shot in a way that builds tension while showing what’s going on. Often, action movies throw explosions and clashing metal together in a murky blend of sound and fury. When you watch Wick, you’ll know precisely where every punch lands and probably be as breathless as Wick when the fight is over.
In his second outing, Stahelski stretches a bit as a storyteller with some tremendous results. Cinematography is a little more artistic. Dramatic sequences between fights are a little smoother, and the shadowy underworld that revolves around Wick is expanded. The crime world and rules that govern its mayhem are fascinating. Stahelski leaves plenty of room and interesting stories for a sequel.
The film also offers Keanu Reeves his best outlet yet for his talents. Wick’s wry aloofness covers Reeves’ occasionally wooden delivery. He seems to have found his niche snarling at baddies before kicking them in the gut and shooting them in the head.
John Wick: Chapter 2 isn’t layered; it’s a cacophony of bullets and blows made for buckets of popcorn, cheering audiences and a big screen. If you’re a fan of great action with a clever but uncomplicated premise, John Wick: Chapter 2 is the bull’s eye.